25.10.2012 [Baseball Nation] - The Tigers townsfolk are fed up with Jose Valverde, and rightly so. But if he really wanted to show some passion, he'd do what a former beloved Detroit closer, and a great one, did to a sports reporter in 1988: Relief pitcher Willie Hernandez of the

15.10.2012 [ESPN] - NEW YORK -- Jose Valverde didn't finish Game 2 of the AL championship series for the Detroit Tigers but retains his closer's role for now. "I guess that sounds like I am mud watching, but I am really not," manager Jim Leyland said. "We will do some

09.11.2012 [USA TODAY] - Jose Valverde: After he lost his job as Detroit Tigers closer in the postseason, the team declined his option, though that was seemingly the plan regardless. Valverde converted 52 of 52 chances in 2011 but blew five saves in the regular season in 2012.

08.11.2012 [Southgate News Herald] - In a way, that's what the ubiquitous question of the postseason — “Who will be the closer, if not Jose Valverde?” — has morphed into in the offseason. The Tigers have already said that they will not be bringing back Valverde to be their primary

08.11.2012 [The Seattle Times] - It is in Boras' interest to encourage spending. His free-agent group includes Soriano and fellow closers Jose Valverde and Ryan Madson, first baseman Carlos Pena, Bourn, Lohse and pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Infielder Maicer Izturis became the first

12.10.2012 [San Francisco Luxury News] - by NESN Staff on Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 9:27PM Seth Smith was Oakland's savior on Wednesday night. With the Athletics on the brink of elimination against the Tigers in the ninth inning, Smith ripped a two-run double off Detroit closer Jose Valverde to

11.10.2012 [ESPN (blog)] - There will be a fifth game in this ALDS thanks to a scintillating rally against Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the ninth inning. Here are some of the statistical highlights from that. Inside the Walk-off Hit Coco Crisp had three walk-off RBI in

05.11.2012 [Rant Sports] - The Detroit Tigers have decided to part ways with their closing pitcher Jose Valverde. Valverde, who is a free agent, will not be offered a contract by the Tigers. Valverde became the most hated Tiger by fans after blowing several 2012 postseason games

11.10.2012 [Baseball America] - Jose Valverde, who makes every save a work of performance art, had the chance to send Detroit into the American League championship series, and he could start by retiring novice Josh Donaldson. The rookie third baseman had only returned to Oakland on

14.10.2012 [Yahoo!Xtra Blogs (blog)] - Young drove in three runs on three hits, including a solo home run for the Tigers, who overcame a disastrous ninth-inning from closing pitcher Jose Valverde. "We had the lead and we lost it but we kept our composure and got some runs," Young said.

01.11.2012 [Motor City Bengals] - The Detroit Tigers have come out and publicly stated that they are prepared to move on from Jose Valverdeas the closer of their ball club. A huge sigh of relief could be heard all around Detroit when that announcement was made, and I will admit that I

05.11.2012 [Rant Sports] - The Detroit Tigers have parted ways with Jose Valverde, their closer of the last three seasons. After two stellar seasons in Detroit, Valverde's 2012 season was not phenomenal, and ended with an epic, unforgettable postseason collapse. With Valverde

14.10.2012 [Yahoo! Sports (blog)] - Still, there's a huge issue facing Tigers manager Jim Leyland as his Detroit squad comes back for Sunday afternoon Game 2 against the New York Yankees: Can closer Jose Valverde be trusted in any high-leverage situation — let alone a closing

25.10.2012 [Bless You Boys (blog)] - It's not that Jose Valverde was perfect -- other than that 49-for-49 thing in 2011, anyway -- but to have such a sudden and violent downfall on baseball's biggest stage is a shock. He may have thrown his last pitch as a Tiger. If so, that's a sad way

02.11.2012 [MLB reports] - Jose Valverde became a free agent on October 30, two days after the Tigers got swept by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. The Tiger publicly announced they are not going to make an attempt to re-sign Valverde. Now the question becomes:

19.10.2012 [Bless You Boys (blog)] - Jose Valverde gets the last dance, but glorification of closers over the relievers who get the game to the ninth inning is a mistake, guest columnist Michael Bates says. Facebook. Twitter. Written by Michael Bates, this is the second story as part of

11.10.2012 [Bless You Boys (blog)] - The Tigers managed to put a couple of runs on the board, but not enough to overcome Jose Valverde. Handed a two-run lead with three outs to go, he gave it back in three hitters before allowing the A's to stave off elimination, 4-3. Mashed Potato.

02.11.2012 [Motor City Bengals (blog)] - I think everyone is aware by now that the Tigers have stated that they have no interest in trying to bring (former) closer Jose Valverde back to the team for 2013. This means the Tigers have an opening in their bullpen, and indications are that they

08.11.2012 [MLive.com] - Your turn: What grade would you give the Detroit Tigers' relief pitching in 2012? Detroit Tigers' relief pitcher Jose Valverde leaves the game in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees on Oct. 13 in New York. (Photo by AP

14.10.2012 [Midwest Sports Fans] - My guess is the marching orders of Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones to Jose Valverde in the ninth inning Saturday night was exactly to that effect. Or I could go with the words of colleague Ari Kaufman, whose text got to me seemingly before Ibanez's

06.11.2012 [Motor City Bengals] - The departure of Jose Valverde has left the Detroit Tigers without a closer (in name) and with a vacancy in their bullpen that they appear likely to fill via free agency. I usually don't advocate for signing a player that has a history of being a

19.10.2012 [Boston Globe] - With Mariano Rivera (injury) watching from the dugout and Jose Valverde (performance) reduced to spectator status, there is a dearth of standout closers on the scene this fall. Unless, of course, you're talking about Notre Dame's Tommy Rees. The junior

06.11.2012 [MLive.com] - Jose Valverde (free agent): Dave Dombrowski said the Tigers will not pursue Valverde, who is a free agent. But who will replace him as the closer? Joaquin Benoit (signed): Benoit had an up-and-down season as the setup man for the Tigers. Those ups and

27.10.2012 [NESN.com] - Phil Coke has found a new home as the Tigers' shutdown man, where he's been strong in the late innings while former closer Jose Valverde takes some time off. But, while Coke may be pretty good now, he wasn't anyone to notice before — at least

14.10.2012 [Lone Star Ball] - I don't think I will today, either. Maybe Monday. Not watching yesterday meant I missed an epic Jose Valverde meltdown, as well as Derek Jeter breaking his ankle, an injury that will keep him out of the rest of the postseason. Evan Grant runs down his